Communication Blocker- Impatience
The final blocker this week is one that we all have to deal with at one time or another. It is impatience. This is an emotion that can sometimes be avoided if we are simply more organized and not having to rush everywhere. But ultimately patience is a Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), which means that it is not something that we come by naturally.
When we are impatient with our children for whatever reason we can more easily brush off what they are saying and not truly listen to them. If we get in a pattern of impatience it can cause them to clam up and either turn elsewhere to be listened to or internalize everything. Both of these are bad especially when it is our job to make them feel loved and valued.
Choose to be patient with your children. Make sure that you are spending time communicating with God. Only through His strength can you be patient through any frustration, and communicate to your children not only your love for them but ultimately His!
Communication Blockers- Peers
There is another area that can become a blocker for teaching positive communication and that can be a child’s peers. Peers can be a positive practicing tool for communication, but if peers are the only place our children are learning how to communicate it can be detrimental. If we as a family are not placing an emphasis on communication then our kids will have to learn somewhere. Peers can also end up being a listening substitute for your child. This means that if your child doesn’t feel listened to at home they will search for a place where they feel that acceptance. One of the ways we can make our child feel valued and accepted at home is simply by listening to them.
A second way that peers can be a blocker for positive communication is if they are a negative influence on your child. Issues with attitude and negativity can rub off on our children if we are not careful. As parents we need to take the time to get to know the people who can also have a big influence on our children, their friends.
August 27
Communication Blockers-Technology
Another blocker for teaching communication, ironically, can be technology. One of the things that technology is supposed to do is make it easier for everyone to communicate. In fact through things like facebook and twitter we can be updated on even the small details of what is going on in each other’s lives. Through texting we can discreetly communicate small snippets of information. Even email has replaced most interoffice communication and the need for buying stamps. But with the need for instant communication we may be loosing the personal touch which comes with face to face communication. There was a time when you wouldn’t think of telling something important over the phone because it was too impersonal. Now we blast our important announcements over the social networks and twitter.
We need to be careful through all of this that our children don’t miss out on being taught how to communicate properly. If the only way they are learning to communicate is through text and tweets, they are seriously missing out. You cannot have a deeply heartfelt conversation about emotions through this venue. That training takes lots of time given by mom and dad. Make sure there are times of your day where there are “no cell phones allowed”, so your family can communicate to each other with some good old fashioned talking!